Stagnant wages, pay equity prompt unionization discussion that began in January, says reporter Katie Gillespie.

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Journalists at the Vancouver-based newspaper The Columbian have launched an effort to unionize.

Staff notified The Columbian publisher and owner Scott Campbell on Monday of their intent to unionize, after a card vote indicated over 70 percent were in support of a union.

Staff also delivered the union's mission statement to newspaper managers Monday morning. The union told OPB that Campbell expressed disappointment after the announcement and said he would not voluntarily recognize the union. Campbell has not responded to a request for comment.

The Columbian Guild would cover about 30 employees, including reporters, photographers, copy editors, page designers and editorial assistants.

The proposed union would be represented by the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild, part of The NewsGuild, which is a sector of the Communications Workers of America.

Click here to read the rest of the story by OPB, a news partner of the Portland Tribune.

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